Bachelor of Arts in Social Care

Programme Outcomes

On successful completion of this programme the learner will be able to :

PO1

Knowledge - Breadth

1 a competence in facilitation, group work, recreational and interpersonal skills;
2 a capacity to appraise the social psychology involved in dealing with challenging individual and social problems;
3 proficient skills in report writing, computer applications, listening, communication, home management, leisure and health education;
4 a thorough understanding of sociological themes and their impact on social care practice;
5 a clear knowledge and understanding of developmental, abnormal, social and family psychology;
6 a specialised knowledge of the body of theory that guides social care practice;
7 the ability to formulate, design, implement and evaluate programmes of care at individual and group level;
8 an experienced apprehension of the vocabulary and expression of emotional responses: intra-personal, interpersonal and group;
9 an understanding of the operation of areas of Irish law pertinent to the social care setting.

PO2

Knowledge - Kind

1 an ability to evaluate current theory and practice in the social care field, as well as an ability to integrate concepts across a variety of areas;
2 a capability to utilize policy concepts already learned and extend his/her depth of understanding to appreciate the nature and extent of change on the personal and social levels and also within the workplace;
3 an ability to link theory, skills and personal development toward becoming a reflective, skilled, care practitioner;
4 a detailed knowledge of the role of a social care worker as recreation leader;
5 a capacity to break down personal contact and relating into the several component skills involved and have experienced these in practice;
6 the knowledge and skill to design, implement and evaluate intervention programmes across a variety of social care fields;
7 an ability to objectively construe phenomena from a more conceptual rather than a purely applied stance.

PO3

Skill - Range

1 that s/he has a developed a grasp of sociological theory and its applications;
2 specialised practical, domestic, creative and therapeutic skills in the care field;
3 an informed understanding of self as care practitioner across a variety of social care settings;
4 the capacity to listen, track and explore narrative and be able to express difference and agreement in ways that can be processed by others;
5 the ability to construe social institutions, e.g. family, from the systemic perspective;
6 that s/he has developed a strong theoretical knowledge to assist him/her in working with particular groupings, for example, multicultural theory, labelling theory and the social model of disability;
7 the ability to devise and evaluate a range of health promoting strategies for use on the workplace;
8 an ability to understand the nature of practicing within a variety of social care settings;
9 the ability and confidence to apply diagnostic and creative skills.

PO4

Skill - Selectivity

1 a competence in identifying the particular sociological and policy parameters relating to particular social issues, and problems, and an ability to ascertain the opportunities and limitations these place on the care worker;
2 the communication skills necessary for working with different client groups in the workplace;
3 a capacity to implement a therapeutic programme with a variety of clients;
4 the ability to demonstrate accountability and performance evaluation of their own work;
5 a capacity to identify and prioritise client goals and work towards these;
6 the ability to apply supervision frameworks to a variety of care settings;
7 an ability to respond to situations as they arise within the care setting, while taking cognisance of the potential legal ramifications.

PO5

Competence - Context

1 skill in recognising particular emotional, psychological and social problems from their accompanying symptoms and the ability to assess the usefulness, appropriateness and limitations of his/her response;
2 the ability to select and justify appropriate interventions in relation to service planning, delivery, supervision and evaluation;
3 a deep understanding of the risks involved in particular care contexts and that s/he is in a position to tailor his/her work accordingly;
4 an ability to apply skills in relation to stress management;
5. Be able to work independently and as a member of a team
6 a capacity to facilitate small groups;
7 an ability to critically assess current care practices and policies and their implications;
8 an awareness of the limits of his/her own competence and level of training and the ability to adhere to these;
9 the capacity to apprehend the complexity of any individual or social problem;
10 an ability to apply concepts, theoretical perspectives, legislation and skills learnt across a variety of care populations.

PO6

Competence - Role

1 an understanding the dynamics of various social situations;
2 an ability to work autonomously;
3 the capability to lead a peer group session by means of a presentation;
4 a capacity to supervise staff in certain care settings in accordance with good practice;
5 the ability to take a leadership role with clients as well as a team member role with co-workers, while being fully aware of the variety of skills involved in each;
6 a capacity to work effectively in a multidisciplinary context;
7 ethical practice and professional integrity.

PO7

Competence - Learning to Learn

1 a capacity to ascertain, through professional supervision, group work and further educational programmes his/her gaps in knowledge and skill;
2 the ability to operate ethically as a reflective social care professional;
3 a greater ability to appraise critically;
4 an awareness of the need for continued professional development;
5 the ability to give, and receive, constructive feedback;
6 a capacity to use initiative within the confines of the workplace;
7 an ability to identify areas for further study and to evaluate the learning from this process;
8 the ability to identify and address learning needs at personal and professional levels.

PO8

Competence - Insight

1 that s/he has become a reflective and holistic practitioner, with the capacity to synergise these practices;
2 an ability to analyse his/her own health status in relation to wellness, stress management and leisure participation;
3 empathy and solidarity with client groups;
4 the ability to use professional supervision to enhance ones own learning;
5 an ability to compare, contrast and apply different theoretical perspectives to psychological and sociocultural phenomena;
6 a capacity for insight into practical measures which can be taken to promote ones own and clients’ welfare;
7 the ability to explore the dynamics of the working environment.